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Carrie Fisher's daughter cast in Star Wars

Carrie Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd has been cast in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII to play a younger version of Princess Leia.

57-year-old Fisher is set to reprise her role as Princess Leia in the forthcoming instalment of the sci-fi series, and it has now been announced that her 21-year-old daughter, Billie Lourd, has also joined the cast.

Despite being a relative unknown, director J.J. Abrams is said to have chosen her to play a young version of her mother's character because of their visual similarities.

A source told The Sun newspaper: ''Billie flew into the UK to join her mother earlier this month.

''She will even have her hair tied up inPrincess Leia-style buns. She's an aspiring actress and singer so she grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

''Carrie backed the move as she wanted somebody in her family to play her most famous role.''

Lourd - whose father is entertainment agent Bryan Lourd - will feature in flashback scenes as a younger version of Princess Leia, hero Luke Skywalker's sister, whom her mother portrayed in the first three Star Wars films.